Anti-Aging… Since When Did “Aging” Become A Bad Thing?

A posh term these days is “anti-aging”. We see anti-aging terminology all over the place – in cosmetics, vitamins, supplements, prescription medications, etc. 

Since I’m well past forty, I feel like I’m qualified to speak my mind. I don’t agree with the term “anti-aging”. This term simply carries a connotation that there’s something wrong with growing older. Quite frankly, I feel like I’m just now coming into my prime. Age seems to bring with it a degree of benefit. 

I prefer the terms “Preventive-Aging” and “Longevity”. These convey a meaning of being empowered with the preventive measures necessary for living healthier for longer periods of time. Let me give you a quote that I recently read:

The gradual wasting away of the body over the course of decades is not a necessary or normal component of aging. 

Rather, it is the natural outcome from a lifetime of unenlightened lifestyle choices.

The Conclusion…

Through unhealthy choices you may actually function and be aging biologically at the same level 

as someone 15-20 years older!

So, here’s the golden question…

How can you be one of those people who function and age biologically at a level equivalent to someone who is many years younger than you?

At Term That Makes No Sense…

If I’m totally honest, I must inform you that we, as Americans, have potentially been fleeced. Over the past 8 years, politicians have led us to believe that there is such a thing as “Healthcare Reform”. Sadly, this is not true. The reality is that it’s not “Healthcare Reform”. Instead, it is “Sick Care Reform”. Let me explain…

• Exponential number of Americans today are turning 65 years old
• Nine fold increase in the cost of sick care of those over 65 – 85 years compared to those prior to age 65 years.
• More than 75 cents of every dollar spent in healthcare goes toward treating preventable sickness (ie, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, obesity)
• Most medical providers are trained to wait until patients are drowning before they throw them a life preserver…. this is, in essence, “downstream” medicine.

What if there was a way to hedge the risks?

There is a way. It’s called “Preventive-Aging & Longevity Care”. A specialist in this area is astute at designing a longevity plan that is custom tailored to fit individual needs. Lifestyle choice coaching & hormone rebalancing are just a couple of the techniques implemented to help achieve these goals.

At Matrix Wellness Solutions, we are specialists in Preventive-Aging & Longevity Care. If you or someone you know would benefit from a personalized longevity plan, contact us for details.

To Your Health,

Brian Brown

Have You Kept Your New Year’s Resolution?

Well, we are just over four months into this New Year, and I’d be willing to bet that there are a lot of people out there who have fallen off of the wagon…. In fact, it might be safer to say they’ve left the reservation and possibly even thrown themselves over the cliff. 

When it comes to achieving your diet and weight loss goals, accountability is king! Many well-intentioned dieters have tried to shortchange this process only to realize that failure is looming overhead. Humans are “relational” creatures - we need each other. It’s just that simple. 

Other dieters struggle with discouragement. It’s very common to struggle with peaks and valleys during the weight loss process. Understanding the normal physical patterns that come along with weight loss is essential to successfully attaining weight loss goals. Having someone to coach you through all of the pitfalls will make you more likely to succeed. 

Lastly, tracking everything that you eat is essential. Research shows that people who journal their daily food intake are 50% more likely to get the weight off and keep it off. 

At Matrix Wellness Solutions, we provide intensive support, coaching, and encouragement for each of our clients. If you’d like to get your weight loss train back on the tracks, give us a call so that we can discuss your personalized plan. 

To Your Health, 

Brian Brown

Researchers Claim 72 Is The New 30

Some top age-management and longevity researchers believe that 72 is the new 30. 

A recent German study showed that life expectancy has risen faster in the past 4 generations than it has in the history of mankind. In 1935, life expectancy was 65 now it's 78. At the turn of the 20th Century, the life expectancy was just over forty years of age. 

A lot of this has to do with the industrialization of our work force, which created safer work environments for the American worker; no long were people at risk on the farm. Another study reported that life expectancy has extended by three months every year since 1840 and that birth and that babies born today are 200 times less likely to die in the first couple of years of life. Researchers believe that the introduction of antibiotics and improved healthcare have attributed to the latter. 

Isn’t it great that we live in a time when we can boast of these things? 

Wouldn’t it be even greater if we could ensure that the days we have are the healthiest days possible? 

At Matrix, we truly view our bodies as living temples of God. As such, we do our best to maintain this temple and help others do the same thing. We do this by developing a specific “Life Plan” custom tailored to each individual’s needs. A life plan includes: 

• Lifestyle Coaching 
• Weight Management Coaching 
• Nutritional Coaching 
• Hormone Rebalancing 
• Fitness Coaching 

When we put all of these things together, we may not be able to extend our years beyond what God intended for us to live, but we sure can make the years that we have much more healthy and full. 

To Your Health, 

Brian Brown

Eating Like Jesus: 8 Healthy Foods Of His Time (Part 1)

Coming on the heels of Easter, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about foods that Jesus may have eaten and the potential health benefits of these foods. In todays installment, we will talk about the first four foods and then cover the next four foods in the next segment. 

Although there are only a very few examples of what Jesus actually ate, we can make some generalizations based on archeological findings and also by looking at today’s consumption of traditional foods in the Middle East. In many areas of the Middle East, people still eat the same foods that were eaten thousands of years ago. 

1. Pomegranates 

These are high in a very potent anti-oxidant called “Peroxidase” (per-ox-ee-day-ce). The health benefits of this enzyme are amazing. It protects your body from the effects of the break-down of cholesterol. Experts believe that regular consumption of this fruit can have major health benefits to the heart, breast health, prostate health, and skin health. This is why pomegranates are called “super fruits”. Additionally, a single pomegranate contains 50% of your daily allowance of fiber and Vitamin C. 

2. Fish 

There are several examples of this important staple in the diet of the people during Jesus’ day, and there are even more examples of the occupation of fishing in the Bible as well. The health benefits of fish are well known. The high content of Omega 3 Fatty Acids make them the ideal food for good heart health. Fatty fish that have been shown to have health benefits are Herring, Mackerel, Sardines, Lake Trout, & Salmon 

3. Honey 

Honey has long been recognized for its anti-microbial benefits for healing cuts and other wounds. Even more recent research has shown that the phytonutrients in honey may have cancer-fighting ability. Other researchers also believe that honey can promote healthy balance of cholesterol & blood sugar as well as promote healthy digestive tract health. 

4. Olive Oil & Olives 

Since the times of ancient Egypt, olives and olive oil have been a traditional staple food. Olives are exceptionally high in fiber and are known to promote heart health by helping maintain healthy cholesterol levels and controlling inflammation. This inflammatory effect reaches further than the blood vessels; most people notice improved joint mobility and decrease of pain while using olive oil. Lastly, it has shown benefits of promoting healthy blood sugar levels as well. 

Part 2 Is Coming Later This Week…….. Stay Tuned 

To Your Health, 

Brian Brown

Momma Taught Me To Clean My Plate…Part 1

Isn’t it funny how quickly our past can dictate our present without us even realizing it? Something as simple as a childhood lesson can have a powerful impact on our adult life and even our health.

Growing up, I was always encouraged to clean my plate because there were starving kids in Africa who don’t have anything --- a classic case of guilt. And, although I was never truly forced to clean my plate, I also heard the dreaded words that millions of kids have heard for generations: “You can’t have anything sweat until you finish your veggies and meat” --- a classic case of bribery. I’m sure a lot of you can relate to this. 

From my own personal perspective, I learned to eat faster in order to get to “the good stuff”. For as long as I can remember, I was always a heavy kid. I remember being mortified every time we had to buy new clothes. My mom always had to buy my jeans at Sears because I needed Tough Skin Husky size jeans. You see, I had fallen into a cycle of eating fast, not giving my brain time to catch up to my stomach, and cleaning my plate, just to get to “the good stuff”. 

Many a well-intentioned parent has fallen into this same trap. I’m one of them --- I have used guilt & bribery to encourage my own kids to eat more healthy foods. It’s simply engrained in us from a very early age. It’s comfortable, it’s familiar, and it even works to some degree. 

The problem with most people arises when the voices of guilt and bribery don't have to be audibly spoken, and the automatic drive to eat faster overtakes the brain’s ability to tell you when you’re full. At some point in our developmental years, we hear these messages so much, and develop bad eating habits to the point that it becomes a part of who we are. On many levels, it’s no longer even conscious. It forces us into a cycle of consuming more calories, which is a huge problem. 

In my next installment, we’ll talk about some things you can do to end this cycle. 

To Your Health, 

Brian Brown

How Can I Prevent or Reverse Type II Diabetes?

There’s been a lot of talk lately about diabetes remission. Edward Gregg from the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) summarizes the common thinking of today very well… 

Kind of a long-term assumption really is that once you have diabetes there's no turning back on it, and there's no remission or cure -- Edward Gregg 

However, in a recent study that Edward Gregg and his team at the CDC published in the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA), 11.5% of those with Type II Diabetes who participated in a one year program of intensive diet and exercise were found to have blood sugar levels that approached those levels of their “pre-diabetic” state. 

Additionally, those who were more newly diagnosed had a greater chance of falling into the 11.5% group of people who went into remission. The hallmark of the research findings was that weekly accountability and support played just as important a role as diet and exercise. 

This gives hope to those with Type II Diabetes that aggressive lifestyle change & proper accountability can have significant impact on overall health outcomes with Type II Diabetes. It’s no longer a mandatory sentence that has to be accepted. It can be fought, and the battle can be won. 

At Matrix Wellness Solutions, we have had a number of clients who have reduced or stopped their diabetes medications under the close medical supervision that we offer through our weight loss programs. Below is a graph of one such patient.

Upon admission to the clinic, this person had a fasting blood sugar of 260; he was also 320 pounds and taking 60 units of insulin along with two different oral diabetes medications. Over a 6 month period, his blood sugar continued to decline and he lost 70.4 pounds. The end result was that he came off of insulin & one of his oral diabetes medications completely. The other oral medication has been cut in half and we are hopeful that he will be off of this one in the next 3 months. 

During this six-month period, this particular patient was seen on a weekly basis. He was also given dietary education, support & accountability for a customized diet plan with moderate exercise. His lab work and blood sugars were monitored frequently throughout this period and adjustments were made to his medications as needed. 

At Matrix Wellness Solutions we have real people with real results.

What Your Primary Care May Not Know About Your Thyroid May Hurt You

This past week, I accidentally recorded the Fox News Channel’s show, Sunday Housecall. Just as I was about to delete it from my DVR list, the show’s description caught my eye. One of the lead segments was on thyroid health. Out of curiosity, I decided to watch the recording. 

Dr. David Samadi made the following statement: “Your doctor may say that your thyroid hormones are normal, but they could be a low normal, not optimal enough. So, you may have to have a conversation (with your Primary Care Provider) and boost it toward the higher normal.” 

I see this all the time with our clients at Matrix Wellness Solutions. Sub-clinical hypothyroidism, as Dr. Samadi is referring to, is more common than one might think. It’s also one of the most overlooked disorders of aging. Now, don’t get me wrong. When I speak of “aging” in the last statement, I’m referring to anyone over 30 years of age. Few people realize that from age 30 to 50 years our thyroid hormone declines about 20-30% -- decline measured as decreased production, decreased conversion, decreased sensitivity, or a combination of these. It may still be in the normal range, but it’s definitely NOT optimal. 

Treating thyroid hormone to “optimal” levels is one of the most beneficial things we can do in medicine. It only takes a slightly different approach and mindset, but the benefits are numerous: weight loss, blood sugar regulation, osteoporosis prevention, mental clarity, short-term memory improvement, mood enhancement, and the list goes on. 

I’ve included the link to the Sunday Housecall segment, so you can check it out for yourself. 

Enjoy… 

Watch Video Here:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2186625153001/

Fresh Manna Monday

2 Chronicles 13: 1-7 

In the passages above is written a remarkable recount of David’s leadership and heart as he pursued what really mattered in life. In summary, the Ark of God or the presence of God had taken a “backseat” under the leadership of King Saul, David’s predecessor. David knew that what the nation needed was God back in their midst. I really like the way he chose to involve everyone in the decision making. In verses 1 and 2 he met with his commanders and I believe laid out the plan and vision he had for reaching the God-inspired goal he had been given. I believe David had to encourage those of his leadership under him to take ownership in the “task at hand”. I envision David as he enthusiastically and with great energy laid out the plan for his nation as he shared with his immediate leadership. David knew that he needed everyone “on board” if his strategy was to be met with the least resistance from the people. 

After David was successful with encouraging the leaders of Israel, he then went to the people with his plan and once again laid out God’s strategy for the nation. The people emphatically rallied behind David and the leadership and moved forward with the plan to pursue God by reclaiming the Ark of God. The reason that I feel that this is such a great example of Leadership is that David understood the need to communicate clearly and effectively what he knew was God’s heart and direction. Effective communication is such an essential part of being the leaders that God intended for us to be. You may be thinking, “I am not a leader”, but the fact is we are all leaders. If we are parents, we are leaders. If we are aunts or uncles, or even brothers or sisters, we are leaders. In fact, a recognized position does not make us a leader, but if we are a person who gives advice or has influence on even one person then we are leaders. So, I am not sure about you, but this makes me realize that when it comes to my influence on others then I need to make sure I am communicating effectively to ensure that what is really important in life is heard by all who may be following.

Harmful Bacteria Linked To Obesity

Here’s an excerpt from a recent article that I read:

So how might bacteria in the gut affect your weight? Research suggests that organisms in our intestines have a significant impact on how fats in our food are metabolized, absorbed and stored. The first data to suggest a connection between the health of the gut and the risk of obesity was published in 2004, and since then more than 100 articles have been published trying to elucidate the mechanism behind this. 

An imbalance of harmful bacteria in the gut can secrete substances known as endotoxins that can incite inflammation and contribute to changes in hormones that subsequently lead to weight gain. In a recent study in China, scientists identified an obesity-linked bacteria known as Enterobacter from a morbidly obese adult male; when that bacterium was eliminated from his gut, he lost nearly 30 percent of his body weight. The researchers then fed this same Enterobacter to a group of mice; they developed obesity and insulin resistance from this exposure. (K. Judge & M. Barish-Wreden; The Sacramento Bee - Mclatchy-Tribune News Service; Sacramento, Calif.; 2012)

Symptoms of enterobacter infections are serious and most always lead to hospitalization and sometimes fatality. Although it’s unlikely that you will ever have these serious bacteria in your gut, it’s important to note how fragile our gut is. We have to take care of our gut in order to maintain healthy nutrition balance.

Knowing the things that can lead to a build-up of harmful bacteria can help us avoid pitfalls later on. Here are some of the things that can affect that build-up:

Foods we eat

Use of antibiotics

Chronic ingestion of acid-reducing medications 

Stress

It may be hard to believe, but the bacteria in your gut can change in as little as a day. So how do we keep our gut healthy?

Avoid processed grains 

Avoid sugars

Switch to whole, unprocessed grains 

Incorporate more fermented foods like yogurt

Choose Your Sugar Wisely

When it comes to healthy living, most people are aware that sugar and starches need to be limited. But, most people don’t know why. When you eat foods that are starchy or contain sugar, your body interprets them all as pure sugar. Your body doesn’t know the difference between a tablespoon of sugar, a piece of bread, or mashed potatoes.

While sugar is necessary for survival, the best source of sugar comes from fruits and vegetables. I tell patients all the time to think of themselves as scavengers. Ask yourself, what am I most likely to find if I’m stranded in a tropical wilderness? Odds dictate that you are more likely to find cruciferous vegetables, nuts, and berries while scavenging. For now, we will stick to fruit.

In nature, berries are most plentiful and tree fruit is seasonal; thus, tree fruit naturally has limited availability. Because of modern-day-mass-production of these delectable foods, we no longer have to scavenge. We simply go to the local market and purchase whatever our heart desires. This can be both good & bad - good in the sense that we have access to healthier options, but bad in the sense that unlimited access to seasonal fruits, such as those that come from trees, can lead us to unhealthy imbalances.

Remember this little clue. Any fruit that ends in “berry” is better for you: strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, & raspberry. These have the lowest sugar content of all fruits, are filling, high in fiber, low in sugar, and high in antioxidants. If you have a choice, choose berries over tree fruit. If you must eat tree fruit, stick to apples. Enjoy these healthier options and enjoy a healthier life.

Know Your Number

The Key To Successful Weight Loss

Most people think that the only way to measure success with weight loss is by the number of pounds lost on the scales. Nothing could be further from the truth. You may be asking, what is this all-important number that we need to pay attention to? Is it inches? Is it Body Mass Index (BMI)? The answer is Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). 

Your Resting Metabolic Rate, or RMR, is the total number of daily calories that your body uses at rest. This number is very unique to your body. Imagine this: If you stayed in bed all day and never moved a muscle, the amount of calories that your body used during that time would be your RMR. An RMR is unique as your fingerprint & is dependent on factors such as Age, Body Weight, Hormone Levels, Gender, Muscle Mass, Illness, Disease, & Medications. This number is so unique that six people could be identical in age, gender, body size, and lifestyle but they would all have different RMR’s.

Why is this number so important? The RMR helps us customize a diet that is very specific to your daily calorie needs. As a result, this helps you to avoid unnecessary hunger & cravings by taking all of the guess-work out of the picture. Research shows that people who know their RMR experience nearly double the weight loss compared to traditional methods. Your RMR can be measured with a simple & painless five to ten minute breathing test. This leads to better results that are based on your individual needs AND does away with the one-size-fits-all diet approach you’ve tried before.

Call us for more information on how to get your RMR tested. (731)343-2223